HKPC Takes Hong Kong Industries Further Towards i4.0 and Reindustrialisation with Significant Global and Local Partnerships in the Digital Era

(Hong Kong, 11 October 2018) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today announced pivotal stage in Hong Kong's reindustrialisation, empowered by industry 4.0 (i4.0) through partnering with local and international heavyweights. Championed and implemented by HKPC, these initiatives will further realise the Policy Address' direction to expedite reindustrialisation, encourage smart manufacturing and promote technology transfer as steps to transforming Hong Kong into an international innovation centre.

Graced by Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as the Guest of Honour, and Mr Dieter Lamlé, the German Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao, the ceremony was officiated in witness by Mr Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology; among other government officials, business and professional association leaders, as well as key partners of HKPC from Hong Kong and around the world.

The new HKPC initiatives and partnerships announced during the ceremony included:

• The jointly set up of the Invention Centre (The Hatch) in Hong Kong to accelerate the adoption of innovative industrial technology and promote digital manufacturing development. The Invention Centre in Germany was initiated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (Fraunhofer IPT), KEX Knowledge Exchange AG (KEX) and RWTH Aachen Campus to drive world class innovation
• Memorandum of Understanding signing between HKPC and RWTH Aachen Campus, to establish global leading Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Research Centre in Hong Kong. This is the first research laboratory established outside Germany by the world-renowned RWTH Aachen Campus, as a result of the long-term and trusted partnership from HKPC, Fraunhofer IPT, RWTH Aachen University, and KEX, promoting world-class applied R&D in the two regions. The partnership brings the RWTH Aachen Campus to Hong Kong, establishing various centres that will provide premier industry partners with outstanding applied R&D.
• Pledging of "Reindustrialisation and Industry 4.0" Charter with 13 leading industry chambers, quangos and business associations in Hong Kong, to foster reindustrialisation and transformation to i4.0 for companies in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the Greater Bay Area, collectively contributing to the transformation of Hong Kong into an international innovation centre.

Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, spoke at the ceremony, "These industry-shaping initiatives will allow Hong Kong manufacturers to react with agility and timeliness in formulating the best game plans to meet market needs. HKPC act as the ‘implementator' in offering state-of-the-art technologies and innovation, as well as comprehensive, cost effective industry solutions to expedite reindustrialisation and i4.0 for companies in Hong Kong and in the Greater Bay Area – contributing to Hong Kong's transformation into an international innovation centre."

Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, witnessed the above-mentioned significant initiatives at the ceremony, and said, "The HKPC has been providing steadfast support to local industries to upgrade their production process and promote re-industrialisation. I encourage Hong Kong enterprises to make good use of the services of the HKPC and the Invention Centre to move up the value-chain. I am confident that our industry will continue to leverage our world-class R&D capabilities and the ‘Made in Hong Kong' brands to re-invigorate Hong Kong's industrial development."

Congratulating on the HKPC-German partnership, Mr Dieter Lamlé, the German Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao, commented, "The new Invention Centre at HKPC will further strengthen research and development (R&D) collaboration between Germany and Hong Kong. Using proven German concepts for applied R&D, we hope the Invention Centre will become a prudent partner in promoting the transformation of Hong Kong into a global innovation hub."

The Invention Centre (The Hatch) was officially inaugurated today. Located at the HKPC Building, it is the Asia's first systematic design thinking workshops venue. It provides local enterprises with a training ground for smart products and service innovations, allowing them to respond with timeliness and agility to industry developments and prototyping, with the partnership of HKPC's, KEX's and Fraunhofer IPT's expertise, technology networks and facilities.

Live demonstrations of i4.0 realisation, including the Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea Making Robot "KamChAI" and Smart Mirror were showcased on site, to provide the audience with a glimpse of real-life digital manufacturing, and insights regarding the tremendous benefits it delivers.

HKPC aims to facilitate knowledge exchange via continuous efforts in introducing new technologies and industry expert sharing. The Smart Manufacturing Congress, attended by industry elites from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Germany, Japan, and the U.S., with key focus on automation intelligence and robotics, is one of the platforms to promote digital manufacturing, supported by best practices.

- Ends -

Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR (centre); Mr Dieter Lamlé, the German Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao (second from right); Mr Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government (second from left); Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (first from left); and Mr Toni Drescher, Head of Technology Management of Fraunhofer IPT, officiate the opening of the Invention Centre (The Hatch).

Mr Mohamed D. Butt, Executive Director of HKPC (centre), and Dr Claus Peter Groos, Managing Director of RWTH Aachen Campus GmbH (third from right), sign the Memorandum of Understanding to establish A.I. and Robotics Research Centre in Hong Kong, witnessed by Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR (third from left); Mr Dieter Lamlé, the German Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao (second from right); Mr Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government (second from right); Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (first from left), and Mr Toni Drescher, Head of Technology Management of Fraunhofer IPT.

Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (seven from left), and representatives from 13 leading industry chambers, quangos and business associations in Hong Kong, join together for the pledging of "Reindustrialisation and Industry 4.0" Charter to foster reindustrialisation and transformation to i4.0 for companies in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the Greater Bay Area, with Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR (centre), and Mr Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government (eight from right).

Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (right), and Mr Toni Drescher, Head of Technology Management of Fraunhofer IPT (left), present the Industry 4.0 "1i Maturity Level Recognition" Certificate to Mr Lee Yuen-fat, Chairman of Ka Shui International Holdings Ltd.